People typically visit Utah for the state's powder, parks, or the past. Now people seeking love and affection can add another "P" to that list: Pooches.
The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a no no-kill shelter located in the mystical, or quasi- mystical Angel Canyon. It is part of the Golden Circle of Southwestern Parks including Zion National, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and more.
This is not your grandma's animal shelter.
It was started to give special needs animals a home when they could find no other. Now it has thousands of dogs, cats, bunnies, horses, and birds in an ideal spacious environment. For families, this is an ideal side trip. The kids will love getting in touch with the animals, but they'll also be learning important lessons about their proper care and treatment beyond the home.
You can take a tour of the facilities, pet many of the animals, and even adopt one.
The tour begins at the welcome center with a video about the history of the organization narrated by founder Michael Mountain (insert Joni Mitchell lyrics here) who charms the audience with his oh so British accent. From there, the van takes you to visit the animals.
Although some come and go, there are regulars who are lifers. In Horse Haven which has far more than horses, visit Dagwood, a very fat pig who makes loud happiness noises the more his belly is rubbed. In Wild Friends, there's Hilltop and Siddharta, two owls who can be observed up close. Fortunately, there aren't too many regular residents of Dog Town, Cat World or Bunny House--they're adopted too quickly to stick around.
To really get a sense of the animal lives, do something you can't at Sea World or the local zoo: volunteer for a day! Duties include feeding the animals and cleaning their cages.
On second thought, you might want to simply come for the snuggling.
Angel Canyon itself has a special appeal to New Age types and other space cadets. The area was a dinosaur hangout during the Jurassic Era. It looks more like the set from Jurassic Park than the film itself, which is kind of scary. Supposedly, there are still some three-toed dinosaur footprints throughout the canyon.
After the big birds went bye-bye, it became home to a Native American tribe known as the Anasazi. Note to the politically correct: In Utah, Native Americans refer to themselves as Indians. In fact, they think that the whole "Native American" thing is kind of stupid. Along the roads, you can find some outdoor craft and jewelry shops that have signs saying "Nice Indian Owners." There are some authentic items at reasonable prices, and not everything is made form those so last New Age revival turquoise stones.
One of the most unusual features of the canyon is the Petrogylph Rock. Here, you'll find an intricate pattern of petrogylphs and pictographs that were created by the Anasazis. Although the images depict the daily life of these people, there is no reference to any form of war or violence. So much for evolution.
One of the petrogylphs shows a mother, father and child and the animals they hold sacred; the bighorn sheep, the mountain goat and the coyote. Above them is a snake, which is supposedly their protector.
To get the full experience rent one of the guest rooms at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Or, you can stay at one of the many cheap hotels in the town of Kanab. Anyone who wants to have a total puppy-love vacation should consider a stay at Greyhound Gang Guesthouse. The owner might even lend you one of her greyhounds to keep you company, if you ask her nicely. Contact claudia@greyhoundgang.com for details.
Speaking of greyhounds, every May, the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary holds their annual Gathering of the Greyhounds. Thousands of greyhounds and their humans gather in Kanab for three days of workshops, movies, socials, etc. It's possible to buy all sorts of stupid looking hats for the dogs, as well collars with real jewels, in case you don't have a child to spoil. The ratio of hounds to humans is about three to one. And people talk about crazy cat ladies! For details, visit www.greyhoundgang.org
Be sure to spend about a day exploring the town of Kanab. The town was the location for a number of films, including Clint Eastwood's
Outlaw Josie Wales . Some of the sets can be visited at no charge. They provide wonderful tacky photo opportunities.
The Rocking V Café will satisfy anyone's growling stomach. Located on 97 West Center Street in Kanab, it gives a whole new meaning to the words "creative cuisine." Their menu is constantly changing, but whatever you eat, is going to be good. The owner, who greets every guest, is a former New Yorker, which you may have guessed by looking at this quote on his website:
"And in case you read no further:
We do not separate, split, divide or in any way facilitate the
fragmentation of checks
1 check, 1 form of payment
If this in any way causes you or a possible member of your dining
party to become befuddled, vexed or flummoxed
Please seek mathematical therapy before you arrive
Whining does not become you."
